Atomic Explorations: Was it Safe? | Manhattan Project National Historical Park Ranger Program
June 26, 2025 2:30 PM –3:30 PM
Overview
Was it Safe? Radiation Safety and the Manhattan Project
The discovery of radiation and radioactivity quickly brought new tools to the medical world, novel ideas and products (not all beneficial) to the public, and injuries to some early researchers and practitioners. The Manhattan Project required large groups of workers to interact with radiation, but how successful was the use of the innovative technologies and practices developed to protect them? Learn more about these techniques as we discuss whether they actually provided safety for thousands of workers. Did “safe” in the 1945 Manhattan Project mean the same as “safe” now?